The historic quarter of the town of Frigiliana, and with in it the Mudéjar Quarter, represents a monumental grouping that some authors have named the most popular architectural structure of Arab origin in existence in the province of Málaga. To this among others, is owed the prize received in 1982 of the I Premio Nacional de Embellecimiento de los Pueblos de España ( 1st National Prize for the Embellishment and improvement of the Spanish Towns).
At present, the Historic Quarter has begun its filing for its declaration of Artistic Historical Grouping.
Sports:- In this village we have a gymnasium and semi Olympic size swimming pool. There is also a covered sports complex where there are always different sporting activities taking place. All this is available to the public at very reasonable prices.
Culture:- Even though this is a small village, we are proud of having had a long and great history, with visible origins from the Neolithic period. Frigiliana has a small but very interesting museum, with various relics and artefacts which were found in an ancient burial place situated on a small hill on a private property only 1km from the centre.
This recently opened museum, which you will find in the beautiful Apero, is now the cultural centre of Frigiliana where is also housed the municipal library and Tourism Office, and in a building of fascinating architectural merit we also have a gallery and art exhibition centre, again open to the public.
Of particular interest is the collection of mural tiles which you can see as you walk along the old streets. As you follow each of these you can get to see some of the history of our village (in particular the Battle of the Penon), depicted in a most original way.
Should you wish to organise a longer excursion, in 90 minutes you could be visiting the Alhambra Palace in Granada, or in a couple of hours you could be at the Mezquita in Cordoba, or visiting the beautiful and fascinating city of Seville.
For almost every season there are typical and popular fiestas, where visitors can join in the festivities with the local people.
FESTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS.- In chronologiclal order.
DIA DE SAN SEBASTIAN.- 20 January
Until 1967 the patron's feasts were celebrated around this day, but for climatological reasons, that usually did not contribute to the celebration, was changed to the month of June in honor of St. Anthony of Padua. Currently this date is exclusively celebrate religiously , with a procession and various gaming acts.
CARNIVAL ( first Saturday in March ).-
As with many Spanish villages, Frigiliana, does not remain aside in this secular tradition in wich the village rids itself or prejudice and goes out on the street with the most unusual costumes in order to mock the various current topics.
HOLY WEEK ( March / April )
Begins its celebration and processional acts the Friday prior to the Passion, Death and Resurrection. So then, on the Viernes de Dolores the brotherhood of this name, whose origins go back to the year 1771, is the only one that can come out in procession at this time. The rest of the religious acts and confraternities, begining with the Domingo de Ramos, keep their paralellims with the other celebrations of the Andalusian context in regards to the Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Still slightly different, due to the baroque spirit of the Frigiliana Easter, is the maximum expression of the Procesión de Ntra. Sra. de la Soledad that takes place on the first hours of the morning of Good Friday to Glory Saturday. It is here that the magical meaning of the Passion and Death gathers thousands of people in the streets of the village to be able to comtemplate this image accompanied by its confraternity. made exclusively by women that, rigurously wearing black, sing Marian chants submerged in the absolute darkness of the Moorish Quarter.
- 3rd of May Day of the Crosses ( Dia de la Cruz )
This festivity, brought back by the Confraternities Association in 1981 after is temporary abolishment the Civil War, shows the year´s most beautiful image giving tribute to the season of flowers. It is tru that this celebration does in fact take place in other corners in andalucia, but we have to agree on the fact that they will never have the same stage to be shown that in the streets, squares, ledges and corners of Frigiliana.
With the break of day all quarters wake up in unison to prepare the floral monuments and the typical dishes and sweets that will later be offered to the visitor in the late afternoon, while the Musical Band , The Choir and Dance Groups visit one by one all the Crosses of all the neighborhoods. As a cloncluding event, in the Chuch´s square a popular evening party takes place until well into the morning.
-La Feria and Romeria of our patron saint St Anthony ( around the 13th of June )
Patronal festivities in honor of San Antonio de Padua, patron of the church that carries his name. The main act being the Romería in which the image of the Patron Saint is taken to the pines of the Higuerón River. This tradition conmemorates the Christian visctory over the moors in the Battle of Frigiliana´s Rock in June 11, 1569.
Other Feria elements that gather hundreds of tourists and people of neighboring villages to Frigiliana is the encierro de vaquillas ( running of the bulls ) that takes place during the early hours of the last day of the celebration.
Cultural and gaming activities of interest:
Cante Flamenco ' Villa de Frigiliana ' contest.
May and June .- International Festival of Choir and Dances.
July - August Rock concerts, Campus Villa de Frigiliana ( Campus Basket ball )
- In July we have important musical concerts
- August: popular dance shows from different parts of the world.
The 3 Cultures Festival.
WHAT IS THE 3 CULTURES FESTIVAL?
The 3 Cultures Festival of Frigiliana is a mixture of festivities and culture and was created in 2006, the idea came from the local government group who wanted to promote the village as a quality tourist destination within the province combining culture, cuisine, music and theatre…. An amalgamation of activities that attracts literally thousands of people to Frigiliana.
Without a doubt the tapa route is one of the most popular activities with the vast majority of visitors taking part. The idea is simple, we offer a wide range of tapas that include a drink for just 1,50€. It wasn´t created as a competition however, every year hundreds of people pack the streets to complete the route so they can collect their commemorative festival t-shirt. Other people prefer to enjoy the celebrations at a slower pace with friends.
Gastronomy is also very apparent at the festival, each year, various restaurants design menus that are relative to the 3 cultures theme offering Sephardic, Arabic or Christian menus, not usually offered throughout the rest of the year.
Frigiliana´s 3 Cultures Festival is lived on the street and revolves around the 3 Cultures Market area. There are over a 150 stalls throughout the historic part of Frigiliana, this is inevitably the place to be should you visit during the festival.
The festival however goes way beyond the market area, whilst here you will encounter various artists providing street entertainment; even fire shows at night, not to mention the various workshops and craftsmen… there are thousands of people wandering through the streets.
There is also the Cultural Centre, a 17th century building that houses film screenings, conferences and exhibitions especially sourced for each annual festival.
In addition, the cultural centre situated in the casa del Apero offers the perfect, cosy setting for outdoor concerts shown every evening throughout the festival. The larger crowd pulling concerts will be based only 500 metres away in the Plaza de las 3 Culturas.
All day long, from the church square to the Parque de Andalucia, the streets of Frigiliana emanate life and are full of fun and festivities.
Theatre groups are active throughout the day, on our walk through the streets you could be attacked by medieval characters performing live thatre! Or we could be met by performing belly dancers. If we manage to get to Calle Zacatin, we will see the craftsmen at work in this, the most emblematic street in the village. Whilst walking through the streets background music will be continually playing, transporting us to times gone by.
The Frigiliana 3 Cultures Festival offers the visitor a fun-filled experience hard to match in other areas of the province. The culture is represented by way of conferences and film, giving us an insight in to our past and other cultures.
We can´t forget the gastronomy, tapas or specially prepared cultural menus, nor can we forget the music, a selection of music prepared for the festival, leaving the more commercial sounds for the rest of the year.
Any tourist visiting our province during the festival should make the effort to come and see this beautiful village situated in the Axarquia.
- December: traditional Midnight Mass, and New Year's Eve is celebrated in a wonderful, friendly atmosphere in the church square.
When you wish to eat you can enjoy a great variety of dishes served in our very many restaurants, where you can discover a quality and excellence which you will never forget.
All bookings are direct with the owner 